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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0     1^1^  U^ 

^^=     H4  Bii   12.2 

1.1   l.-^Ka 

!jg||U_  IJA 


PhotOgK4)hic 

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23  WiST  MAM  STRUT 

WUSTIR,N.Y.  I4SS0 

(716)  •73-4903 


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i 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


i 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 


Th( 
to 


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0 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Th 
po 
of 
filr 


Ori 
be 
thi 
sio 
oti 
fin 
sic 
or 


Th 
sh{ 
Til 
wl 

IVIi 
dif 
en 
be 
rig 
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m( 


This  item  Is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

/ 

3 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  he*  been  reproduced  thank* 
to  the  generosity  of: 

La  Bibliothkiut  da  la  Villa  da  Montrtel 


L'exemplaire  filmA  f ut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gtn^rosit*  de: 

La  Bibliothiqua  da  la  Villa  da  Montreal 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
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or  illustrated  impression. 


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plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
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par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  11  est  f  lime  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

y^ 


m^ 


^^ 


^^^^, 


-•^rW-T-  rjf*- — ^ 


/s-scf 


t^. 


'vie  Ex/^ 


-OF   THE- 


nCHDIHNS 


Peparture  of  the  Acadians. 


THE  PEOPLE"<^ 


Congfellow's      Gi?ang€lin€.^ 


^'^. 


-  \i 


^*. 


w. 


i.'^,^ 


^■nry*^<ift-'_  "ntntr^"-^' 


m 


J 


REMOVING  THE  ACADIANS. 


f^r 


THE  EXILE 


OF  THE 


ACADIANS, 


THE  PEOPLE  OF 


Longfellow's  ''Evangeline." 


-BY- 


Mde.  Morel  de  La  Durantaye 


TOLEDO,  O.: 

THE  B.  P.  WADE  CO  ,  PRINTERS 
1888. 


y 


—  ^' *iiH|i.W<i 


-   -^1 


V 

m 

r.- 

v^W 

te 

■iMt 

1       t- 

'-^^B  J 

'/ 

;?•' 

- 

"■'^S 

t 

;,M 

■ 'W( 

119358 


•f 


©HE-*-flGADIANS+ 


AND  THEIR  FATE. 


|F  the  many  who  have  read  Longfellow's  Evangeline 
with   unbounded   delight,   how  few  there  are  who 
low  that  the  plaintive,  poetic  story  of  Acadia,  is  but  a 
[cture  of  a  real  people,  illustrating  their  simple  mode  of 
and  their  multiple  misfortunes.     Yet  our  Nova  Scotia 
lee  bore  that  romantic  name,  and  her  people  were  the 
[cadians  of  history,  romance  and  song. 

The  story  carries  us  back  to  that  long  ago,  when,  from 

IB  frozen  sea  to  the  tropical  gulf,  this  vast  country  was 

nearly  unknown  wilderness,  its  monotony  being  undis- 

irbed  save  by   a  few  English  colonies   on   the  Atlantic 

lore  of  what  is  now  the  United  States,  and  like  settlements 

)y  the  French  in  Canada,  each  claiming  by  assumed  right 

[hat  which  belonged  to  neither,  and  each  fiercely  jealous  of 

[he  acquirements  of  the  other. 

Thus,  the  two  most  powerful  nations  of  Europe  sought 
Extension  of  dominion  and  addition  of  wealth,  while  colon- 
ists, from  various  quarters  and  of  all  classes,  endeavored  to 
[mprove  their   condition  by  casting  their  fortunes  in  the 
rilds  of  the  •*  new  world.*' 

The  experience  of  all  these  early  pioneers  was  usually 
)itiful  in  the  extreme,  it  not  infrequently  happening  that 


they  fell  victims  to  cold,  starvation  and  disease,  to  the  hostility 
of  neighboring  adventurers  or  to  the  tomahawk  of  the 
savage,  to  be  finally  either  entirely  destroyed  or  as  a  tat- 
tered remnant  return  to  their  old  tiue  homes. 

Among  those  who  so  early  as  1604  cast  their  lot  in 
the  western  wilderness  was  a  body  of  French  people  from 
Normandy,  who  chanced  to  fix  their  new  homes  in  Acadia, 
the  peninsula  now  known  as  Nova  Scotia.  This  effort 
proved  a  failure,  especially  because  of  the  inroads  of 
settlers  from  the  English  colonies  of  Virginia,  who  claimed 
the  peninsula  by  right  of  discovery,  and  whose  people,  led 
by  a  freebooter,  in  the  end  utterly  destroyed  the  colony. 

The  French  government  had  given  the  rugged  realm 
its  tropical  name,  but  in  the  turmoil  of  the  nations,  the  Eng- 
lish obtained  possession,  and  in  1621,  with  greater  fitness, 
pronounced  it  to  be  Nova  Scotia  or  New  Scotland.  But 
neither  tropical  nor  frigid  designation  brought  settled 
quietude  to  its  borders.  It  became  the  shuttlecock  of  war 
and  diplomacy.  In  due  time  the  French  became  its  master, 
to  be  overcome  by  their  persistent  enemy  in  1654.  Thirteen 
years  later  the  French  were  in  power,  fickle  fortune  returning 
it  to  the  English  in  1714  Thus,  experience  had  shown  little 
certainty  of  tenure,  and  that  the  imperious  Englishmen  so 
deemed  it  is  amply  shown  in  the  fact  that  the  treaty  by 
which  it  was  secured  to  them  contained  the  galling  proviso 
that  their  new  subjects,  the  Acadians  or  French  citizens  of 
Nova  Scotia,  might  enjoy  freedom  of  worship,  they  being 
Catholics  while  the  English  government  was  intensely 
Protestant,  and  still  more,  they  were  granted  immunity 
from  bearing  arms,  being  thus  permitted  to  enjoy  the  bene- 
fits of  a  government,  and  be  by  it  protected,  without  rais- 
ing a  hand  even  in  their  own  defense.  This  unprecedented 
favor  may  have  partly  risen  from  the  fact  that  joining  the 


Jnglish  forces  they  would  be  brought  face  to  face  with  her 
jreditary  foe,  and  thus  be  compelled  to.  do  battle  against 
ir^onai  friends  and  relatives;  but  odious  as  this  tacit 
[tizenship  must  have  been  to  the  haughty  English  govern- 
ient,  it  must  be  stated  in  justice  to  it  that  the  treaty 
(edge  was  faithfully  kept. 

It  seems  passing  strange  that  the  well-known  vicis- 
tudes  and  turmoil  did  not  make  a  bar  to  immigration. 
|ut  it  did  not  do  so.  During  each  period  in  which  France 
}ld  the  land,  her  people,  with  consummate  pertinacity, 
lught  homes  in  Acadia;  the  English  with  equal  blindness, 
[urrying  to  their  new  Scotland  during  the  time  of  their 
)ssession. 

This  seems  all  the  more  wonderful  when   the  fact  is 

jcalled,  that  the   varied   changes   in  mastery   so   briefly 

)ted,  were  always  the  results  of  harassing   and   bloody 

fruggles,   participated  in  by   both   French   and   English 

jgular  troops,  the  militia  or  citizen  soldiers  of  both  sides,  in 

rery  case  each  party  being  aided  by    the   blood-thirsty 

ivages,  who  spared  neither  age  or  sex,  and  in  whose  hands 

L mediate  death  was  usually  a  desired  blessing.     The  cheek 

[Iternately  pales  with  anger  and  blushes  with  shame,  as  we 

[eview  the  true  history  of  the  part  taken  by  either  party  in 

jhese  fierce  contests  for  empire,  contests  that  excited  the 

feepest  concern  in  th^  great  capitals  and  courts  of  Europe, 

iree  thousand  miles  away. 

The  Acadian  people,  not  only  brought  with  them  the 

labits  of  the  Norman  peasant,  but  adhered  to  their  pecu- 

^rities  with  unyielding  tenacity.     In  consequence  of  this, 

ley  became  noted   for  simplicity  of  habits,    for  patient 

[nd  persistent  toil  trom  which  followed  remarkable  thrift ; 

)r  devotion  to  the  religion  of  their  fathers,  ardent  attach- 

lent  to  their  fatherland  and  an  unlimited  devotion  to  their 


^sm 


H 


6 

new  homes.  Totally  void  of  those  ambitious  aims  that 
fires  the  hearts  of  other  peoples,  they  sought  nothing  beyond 
their  little  land  possessions,  and  luxuriated  in  the  comforts 
found  in  their  unostentatious  habitations.  Every  impulse 
of  their  hearts  centered  there,  no  toil  was  too  severe,  if  it 
but  tended  to  increase  their  stock  and  store.  The  soil  ol 
the  low  grounds  being  most  fertile,  they  built  dikes,  by 
which  the  waters  were  forced  back,  thus  converting  marshes /i 
into  reclaimed  fields  where  the  cereals  grew  in  abundance, 
while  thousands  of  every  variety  of  cattle  grazed  on  the 
adjacent  plains.  Indulging  in  none  of  the  vanities  that 
corrodes  and  impoverishes  more  pretentious  conimunities, 
frugality  reigned  everywhere  supreme.  Without  education, 
and  relying  on  the  "cure"  for  instruction  and  guidance  in 
all  essential  things,  they  kept  aloof  from  others,  desiring 
most  to  be  by  the  boisterous  world  forgotten  Absence  oi 
ambitious  aims  circumscribed  their  wants  and  rendered 
possible  the  existence  of  such  typical  band  of  broth  '^, 
asking  only  to  be  permitted  to  enjoy  their  toil,  their  content 
ment,  neighbors  and  religion. 

It  would  seem  that  these  meager  favors  were  their  due 
and  should  have  been  accorded  them,  but  instead  they 
were  the  shuttlecocks  of  the  grim  contestants  for  power  and 
empire.  Long  weary  years  of  contention  with  repeated 
change  of  ruling  powers  had  at  last  brought  the  treaty  ol 
1713  before  referred  to,  apparently  bringing  with  it  the 
long  desired  repose. 

Under  the  English  regime,  in  accordance  with  the 
terms  of  this  compact,  nearly  half  a  century  had  passed, 
the  Acadians  being  nominally  English  subjects,  but  cling- 
ing with  the  keenest  ardor  to  old  memories,  bound  in  every 
heart  sympathy  to  those  who  spoke  their  native  tongue, 
and  who  in  every  way  were  to  them  most  near  and  agree- 


^f  .[..i  M.  vmi'um  vinmm 


iW   " 


aims   that 
ng  beyond 
e  comforts 
ry  impulse 
evere,  if  it 
The  soil  oi 
dikes,  by 
Qg  marshes /I 
bundance, 
ed  OD  the 
nities  that 
mmunities, 
education, 
uidance  in 
rs,  desiring 
Absence  ol 
i   rendered 
i   brctli'  1^, 
eir  content 

■e  their  due 
istead  thev 
power  and 
h  repeated 
\e  treaty  oi 
?^ith  it  the 

e  with  the 
ad  passed, 
but  cling- 
id  in  every 
re  tongue, 
and  agree* 


le.    In  every  sense  their  rulers  were  to  them  foreign,  the 
le   engrafted   on   their   land   cold  and  cheerless,  their 
iams  revels  in  Acadia. 

Thus  the  embers  of  unrest  were  ever  warm  in  their 

3oras,  and  calm  and  well  disposed  as  they  were,  required 

|t  little  effort  to  fan  it  to  a  brighter  glow.    To  the  interior 

inadian  colonies,  conditions  were  ever  present  promoting 

(active  effort.     Nova  Scotia,  now  an  English  province, 

jupied  a  position  on  their  eastern  borders  that  very  largely 

terfered  with  their  acccess  to  the  ocean,  which  was  not 

|ly  the  highway  of  trade,  but  the  only  one  through  which 

By  could  maintain  connection  with  France.    Fierce  tribes 

Indians,  ardently  attached  to  the  interests  of  the  Cana- 

m  colonies,  occupied  adjacent  land-  and  secret  emissaries 

;re  ever  busy  fomenting  acrimonirs  in  the  hearts  of  both 

|e  gentle  souled  Acadians  and  *  leir  ueighbors,  the  brutal 

fies 

To  the  English,  the  accordeii  iieutral  citizenship  was 
[tremely  distasteful,  and  when  to  this  was  added  the 
irest  wrought  by  the  emis?aries  of  France,  it  became 
lious.  They  were  further  both  vexed  and  alarmed  by  the 
Section  of  a  French  fort  immediately  over  tiie  line.  This 
fas  situated  at  Beausejours  and  adjacent  to  the  district  of 
[ines,  on  a  narrow  isthmus  connecting  Novia  Scotia  with 
le  mainland  of  Canada  and  seemed  significant,  as  the 
^asin  of  Mineb  was  the  most  populous  and  wealthiest  of  the 
Lcadian  settlements.  Whatever  the  real  purpose  may 
lave  been,  the  fort  and  its  occupancy  by  the  French  troops 
jas  a  perpetual  menace  to  the  rulers  of  the  province. 

The  tempest  was  slowly  but  surely  gathering.      But 

irough  all  the  perplexing  situations  the  Acadian  people 

Jept  as  much  aloof  from  participation  as  was  possible  for 

lem  to  do.     Their  purpose  and  intent  was  to  remain  true 


8 


U 


;. 


to  their  obligations  as  neutrals,  but  being  flesh  and  blood] 
and  the  continued  prey  of  those  who  by  secret  persuasioij 
and  every  possible  device,  sought  to  lead  them  to  sorai 
measure  that  would  result  to  the  advantage  of  the  Cana; 
dian  provinces,  and  through  this  means  to  the  governmen 
of  France,  what  could  be  expected  as  the  result.     With 
all  this  they  so  greaily  preferred  to  till  the  soil,  tend  thei: 
herds,  and  live  in  quietude,  that  with  far  fewer  exception  w| 
than  could  be  expectt?d  they  persisted  in  pursuing  their 
pastoral  career.  tl 

At  last  the  tempest  bad  gathered  its  forces;  a  cloud  oi 
ill-omen  overcast  the  sky.  The  drama  of  turmoil,  of  battle,  tl 
of  unrest  and  changing  rulers,  was  about  to  terminate  h 
tragedy.  The  innocents  were  again  to  suffer ;  the  only  ones 
that  could  be  by  any  means  accounted  guiltless,  were  to  h 
made  the  victims  of  an  act  that  thrills  every  sensibility  oi 
the  human  heart  o| 

The  American  colonies  were  in  fact  a  part  of  England  II 
and    represented  her  interests,  in  precisely  the  same  senst 
that  the  Canadian  colonies  represented  their  home  govern- 
ment. \ 

Through  the  instrumentality  of  the  former,  an  expedi 
tion  was  fitted  out  in  1755  to  reduce  the  fort  at  Beausejours, 
the  ultimate  object  being  to  destroy  French  influence  in 
Nova  Scotia,  thus  making  it  practically  and  really  an  Eng- 
lish province  like  themselves.  The  fleet  sailed  from  Boston 
harbor,  and  on  arrival  near  their  destination  were  joined  by 
a  force  of  British  regulars  under  Col.  Monctoii,  who  took 
command  of  the  whole.  The  negotiations  with  the  English 
government  and  preparation  of  the  expedition  had  been 
conducted  with  so  much  care  that  the  occupants  of  the  for- 
tress were  surprised  at  the  appearance  of  the  enemy.  Their 
consternation  quickly  extended  to  the  Acadians  who,  with 


9 

[inctive  French  predilections,  required  only  a  threat  from 

commandant  of  the  French  forces  to  lead  many  to  cast 

ir  fortunes  with  them.      Not  knowing  what  was  really 

)lved,  believing  their  all  to  be  in  peril  at  the  hands  of 

jtical    freebooters,    they   accepted    the   only  apparent 

{nee  for  self-preservation.      Rendered  desperate  by  the 

)my  outlook,  some  300  joined  the  troops  in  the  fort, 

|le  many,  being  undecided  to  the  last  moment  what  was 

to  do,  finally  hid  their  families  in  the  woods  and  fought 

invader  from  any  cover  they  could  find.     Heroic  but 

taken  purpose,  idle  effort;  the  hand  of  fate  was  upon 

they  struggled  against  destiny. 
The  fort  surrendered  after  feeble  resistance,  and  the 
juided  Acadians  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  English  who, 
^ing  granted  them  neutrality,  now  found  them  traitors. 
With  mock  generosity  they  were  pardoned  this  grave 
ise,  but  there  awaited  them  a  doom  no  less  grievous, 
at  this  doom  that  every  sentiment  of  humanity  and 
imon  decency  revolts,  stamping  the  perpetrators  as  men 
rthy  the  brand  of  Cain.  No  claim  of  precedent,  no 
of  national  policy,  can  be  made  to  hide  the  infamy  of 
it  at  which  the  hearts  of  all  good  men  revolt.  Precedent 
^s  not  palliate  wanton  torture,  physical  or  mental,  more 
in  it  excuses  the  savage  for  burning  his  victim  at  the 
[ke.  The  course  pursued  had  not  even  the  manly  quality 
fair,  open  dealing,  but  consisted  in  a  series  of  schemes,  in 
iry  one  of  which  a  trap  was  secreted,  to  the  end  that 
rn  which  way  they  might,  the  intended  victims  must  come 
[last  to  the  same  condition.  The  purpose  was  perfectly 
Iden  until  the  fatal  line  was  passed. 

Having  been  forgiven  for  joining  hands  with  the  enemy 
[the  recent  contest  at  the  fort  of  Beausejours,  their  hearts 
re  sufficiently  softened  by  the  unexpected  clemency,  to 


10 


li 


T 


j 


respond  promptly  through  their  representatives  that  they 
were  willing  tf)  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  British 
crown,  a  summons  having  been  issued  to  them  to  determine 
the  matter  as  to  their  willingness.  These  representatives 
were  however  astounded  when  infoimed  that  the  old  time 
treaty  proviso  granting  them  immunity  from  bearing  arms, 
and  especial  religious  privileges  could  no  longer  be  tolerated 
and  would  not  be  permitted.  The  oath  must  now  be  taken 
in  full  without  proviso  or  reservation  as  an  evidence  of  com- 
plete abandonment  of  any  former  allegiance.  This  meas- 
ure was  wholly  unexpected  and  to  them  shocking  to  the 
last  degree.  The  agents  could  not  at  once  answer  for  their 
constituency,  in  fact  could  do  no  less  than  to  go  back  to 
them  for  instruction  in  a  matter  so  vital  to  their  interests. 
When  they  returned  for  further  consultation,  the  trap  set 
at  that  point  was  sprung,  it  was  pronounced  too  late. 
Accepting  the  delay  as  an  evidence  of  unwillingness  and 
incincerity,  the  oath  could  not  now  be  taken  at  all  or  in 
any  form,  and  the  suppliants  were  their  government's  out- 
casts Thus  step  by  step  the  cords  were  being  drawn  closer, 
there  having  from  the  beginning  no  intended  method  of 
escape. 

Wandering  blindly  in  a  desert  of  doubt,  the  peasants 
went  on  with  their  harvest  labor,  without  a  dream  of  calam- 
ity greater  than  had  so  often  befallen  them,  that  with  it 
they  were  familiar  as  with  the  face  of  an  old  time  friend. 
It  was  just  as  well,  as  neither  negligence  nor  diligence 
could  change  their  predetermined  doom. 

The  further  development  and  execution  of  the  diabol- 
ical plot  required  great  care  and  secrecy,  from  fear  of  a 
revolt,  to  quell  which  would  result  in  slaughter  in  addition 
to  infamy.  Only  such  delay  occurred  as  was  unavoidable. 
While  the  husbandmen  were  occupied  at  their  labors,  the 


11 


commanding  officer  was  busy  perfecting  every  detail,  and 
issuing  the  orders  of  the  **  Provincial  Governor"  who  rep- 
resented the  British  Crown,  to  his  military  subordinates, 
detailing  their  duty  at  each  of  the  several  French  or  Aca- 
dian settlements.  Of  these  there  were  several,  each  one  a 
little  world  within  itself 

These  officers,  with  requisite  troops,  repairing  to  the 
station  assigned  them,  in  conformity  with  their  instructions, 
each  issued  an  order  directing,  under  penalty,  that  "all  old 
men,  young  men,  and  lads  of  ten  years  of  age,"  should 
meet  at  a  place  designated,  on  September  5th,  1755,  to  hear 
read  a  command  of  the  Governor  of  the  province. 

On  its  face  this  notice  was  entirely  innocent;  and  in 
some  places  was  fully  and  in  others  not  wholly  complied 
with.  Possibly  some  might  have  noticed  that  on  that  morn- 
ing extraordinary  military  precautions  had  been  very  quietly 
taken,  the  strictest  discipline  observed,  and  the  troops  sup- 
plied with  powder  and  ball.  There  could  have  been  noth- 
ing beyond  a  suspicion,  as  the  dread  secret  was  unknown, 
save  to  a  few  trusty  officers  who  were  sworn  to  absolute 
silence  and  secrecy. 

Grand  Pre  was  a  populous  and  thrifty  village,  sur- 
rounded by  charming  farms,  with  fields  well  tilled  and  barns 
overflowing  from  the  recent  harvest.  A  description  of 
what  transpired  there  will  suffice  for  all,  as  the  type  was  the 
same,  and  like  agonies  wrought  everywhere.  Col.  Wins- 
low,  of  Massachusetts,  was  assigned  to  duty  in  that  district, 
and  to  the  credit  of  his  heart  be  it  said,  shrank  from  its  per- 
formance with  expressed  disgust  for  being  made  the  instru- 
ment of  unwanted  cruelty,  but  imperative  orders  forced 
him  to  obedience. 

In  compliance  with  official  notice,  **the  old  men,  young 
men,  and  boys  of  ten  years"  gathered  in  the  village  church 


:■;.   )l 


\  • 


I 


h  M 


12 

at  the  appointed  time.  Few  failed  to  obey  the  mandate, 
as  suspicion  was  disarmed  among  them,  and  the  orders  of 
the  Governor  were  of  vital  importance.  Seated  in  their 
places  in  respectful  and  painful  expectation,  they  did  not 
notice  that  the  soldiers  were  quietly  surrounding  the  build- 
ing. 

This  done,  the  ranking  officer  in  full  uniform,  repre- 
senting his  imperial  majesty  of  Great  Britain,  after  some 
preliminaries,  read  the  fatal  orders,  which  were  nothing  less 
than  that  their  property  was  confiscated  to  the  Crown,  that 
all  were  to  be  removed  fiom  the  province,  leaving  behind 
everything  save  such  personal  eflPects  as  could  conveniently 
be  carried  with  them,  and  that  after  the  moment  of  the 
reading,  they  were  prisoners,  and  with  their  families  doomed 
to  perpetual  exile.  The  ax  had  fallen  at  Grand  Pre,  but 
not  with  like  success  at  some  of  the  settlements,  especially 
that  of  Beau  Basin  and  Annapolis,  where  suspicions  had  by 
some  means  been  aroused,  and  only  a  portion  reported  as 
ordered.  The  recusants,  fleeing  from  the  horror  they 
faintly  imagined,  hid  with  their  families  in  the  woods,  hop- 
ing against  fate  for  something  better  than  their  fears  had 
painted. 

This  awful  communication,  coming  like  a  thunderbolt, 
so  appalled  the  prisoners  that  they  doubted  what  they  heard, 
but  all  became  too  plain  for  doubt  when  they  saw  the  stern 
sentry  at  the  doors  and  beyond  them  the  guard  under  arms. 
Then  their  strong  hearts  bowed  under  the  weight  of  wretch- 
edness. Instantly  passed  before  them  as  in  a  panorama, 
their  homes,  their  families,  and  every  sacred  associated  tie 
suddenly  wrenched  from  them  ;  their  fertile  fields  and  well 
filled  barns,  their  herds  graijing  on  the  plains,  to  them 
blotted  out  forever.  Anguish  rent  every  heart ;  they  were 
worse  than  free  outcasts  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 


13 

Their  families  knew  nothing  of  what  had  transpired, 
until  the  expected  did  not  return,  when  inquiry  caught  the 
rumor,  and,  like  the  hot  and  suffocating  simoon,  the  revolt- 
ing fact  spread  abroad.  Then  arose  shrieks  of  agony  and 
lamentation  in  every  home.  In  frenzy  women  and  children 
rushed  along  the  streets,  wringing  their  hands  in  despair. 
It  was  the  wailing  of  helpless  women  for  absent  loved  ones 
and  for  crushed  hopes  in  every  form — everything  near  and 
dear  seemed  to  have  been  gathered  by  the  hand  of  death, 
and  amid  desolation,  lay  coffined  before  them. 

The  picture  with  all  its  ghastly  seeming  was  all  too 
real,  for  means  of  escape  there  were  none.  Lamentations 
were  powerless  for  relief,  shrieks  of  agony  could  be  answered 
only  by  kindred  shrieks,  while  mothers  pressed  to  their 
breasts  babes  that  like  themselves  were  pinioned  to  the 
wheel. 

The  early  imprisonment  may  be  regarded  in  the  light 
of  a  precaution  to  prevent  disorder,  which,  through  some 
mischance  might  have  resulted  from  delay  and  arousing  of 
suspicion.  At  least  it  was  otherwise  premature,  as  there 
were  not  at  command  a  sufficient  number  of  vessels  to  trans- 
port the  members  of  the  colony  which  necessitated  painful 
delay.  Near  the  shore  at  Grand  Pre  lay  five  vessels  on 
which  it  was  decided  to  place  the  prisoners  as  a  means  of 
security.  The  10th  of  September  was  fixed  upon  as  the 
day  on  which  the  male  captives  would  be  placed  on  board 
to  be  there  guarded  while  awaiting  sufficient  transportation. 

Five  long  weary  days  passed  by,  doubt  and  hope  alter- 
nating m  the  breasts  of  the  imprisoned,  and  their  families 
still  in  their  homes.  Would  the  captors  carry  away  fathers, 
husbands,  sons  and  brothers?  Limited  numbers,  under 
careful  guard,  had  each  day  been  allowed  to  visit  their  fam- 
ilies ;  would  this  blessed  favor  be  taken  away,  were  ques- 


:|-i 


ili 


i 


1  1 


■ 

1    r 


S- 


14 

tions  continually  asked  and  ever  answered  by  a  hopeless 
moan. 

Each  circling  sun  sternly  reduced  the  hours  of  stay, 
and  when  on  the  designated  morn,  its  light  set  all  their 
beautiful  land  in  glory  before  them,  the  drums  were 
resounding  in  the  village  streets.  At  eisrht  o'clock  the 
church  bell  tolled  into  the  desolate  hearts  that  the  fatal 
hour  had  come. 

The  melancholy  column  was  formed  and  260  young 
men,  in  the  advance,  ordered  to  march  on  ship-board.  The 
pride  and  strength  of  their  manly  hearts  forbade  obedience. 
They  asked  only  for  their  families  in  company  With 
them  they  could  bow  to  the  yoke,  but  to  leave  them  they 
would  not.  This  could  not  be,  and  while  drums  resounded 
the  soldiery  advanced  with  fixed  bayonets.  Appeals  were 
vain,  to  resist  with  empty  hands  utterly  hopeless.  A  few 
were  wounded,  when  in  despair  the  march  began. 

From  the  church  to  the  shore,  the  way  was  lined  with 
women  and  children,  mothers,  wives,  babes,  those  who 
tottered  from  age,  and  those  whose  cheeks  were  pallid  with 
the  touch  of  death.  Neither  pen  nor  pencil  can  picture  a 
heart  agony,  nor  can  they  portray  the  fierce  sorrows  of 
those  who  knelt  by  the  way,  greeting  the  prisoners  with 
blessings,  tears  and  lamentations,  as  they  bade,  as  they  yet 
fully  believed,  a  final  adieu.  Trembling  hand  clasped 
hand  that  trembled,  fathers  for  a  moment  only  pressed  their 
lips  to  those  of  wife  and  child  as  they  moved  on  under  the 
eyes  of  the  stern  guards,  who  dare  not  even  if  they  wished 
brook  the  least  delay.  Thus  all  moved  quickly  along  the 
melancholy  path  until  none  were  left  but  those  who 
mourned,  and  when  from  the  vessel  decks  the  imprisoned 
looked  ashore,  there  stood  their  loved  ones  gazing  through 
blinding  tears  to  catch  even  a  faint  glimpse  of  those  so 


15 


cruelly  wrenched  from  them.  Riveted  to  the  spot,  the 
desolate  women  and  children  wrung  their  hands  and  wept 
until  *' tired  nature"  and  the  gloom  of  nightfall  forced 
them  to  seek  protection  in  their  homes. 

One  act  in  this  infamous  drama  had  been  completed, 
an  act  that  brought  shame  into  the  English  hearts,  who 
under  orders  were  compelled  to  its  execution. 

There  is  a  form  of  mercy  in  the  ending  of  torture, 
but  even  this  trifling  boon  was  not  tor  the  unfortunate 
Acadians,  for  through  long  weeks  of  waiting  for  additional 
transports  and  supplies  they  lay  in  full  view  of  their  lost 
treasures. 

Horrified  beyond  measure,  utterly  powerless,  incapable 
of  thinking  this  cold  inhumanity  could  be  more  than 
temporary,  the  women  felt  that  the  persecutors  must  relent ; 
that  the  iron  heart  would  soften,  the  relentless  hand  loose 
its  hold  and  the  imprisoned  be  returned  to  them.  Soothed 
with  this  "forlorn  hope,"  they  turned  their  attention  to 
their  varied  duties,  each  day,  by  permission,  carrying  food 
from  their  tables  to  those  on  board  the  ships. 

But  the  end  was  not  yet.  The  event  of  September 
10th  was  that  of  separation ;  that  which  was  to  follow  was 
one  of  union,  but  not  at  the  family  fireside. 

Again  the  drums  beat,  troops  paraded  under  arms, 
and  dividing  into  squads,  proceeded  to  the  performance  of 
the  last  act  of  the  cruel  tragedy.  The  labor  of  the  house- 
wife, the  play  of  Acadian  children  in  Acadia,  was  ended. 
For  the  last  time  had  been  heard  there  their  lullaby,  for 
the  last  time  the  prattle  of  their  babes.  The  order  was  im- 
perative, the  fatal  hour  of  embarkation  had  arrived, 
mothers,  wives  and  children  must  now  join  their  imprisoned 
friends,  not  definitely  as  families,  but  as  chance  might 
determine.     With  this   awful   reality,  the  last   hope  was 


■:  ]'\ 


f 


i.  . 
I  <  I 


16 


I  » 


i 


crushed  and  horror  thrilled  every  heart.  In  bewildering 
grief  and  terror,  almost  unconscious  of  what  they  did, 
some  prized  treasures  were  gathered  together.  Still  reluc- 
tant to  go,  the  soldiery  were  compelled  to  force  their  depar- 
ture, and  amid  tears  hot  with  agony,  mothers  carried  their 
children,  friends  bore  the  aged  and  infirm  in  meloncholy 
procession  to  the  boats  that  were  to  bear  them  to  the  vessels 
awaiting  them  near  the  shore.  At  each  of  the  villages  the 
same  blood  chilling  scenes  were  enacted,  and  then  fire 
swept  away  homes,  churches  and  harvests  before  their  eyes. 
Flames  burst  through  windows,  crept  over  roofs,  houses 
and  barns  melted  like  wax,  while  each  stack  of  grain 
became  a  huge  cone  of  smoke,  streaked  with  fire,  until 
nothing  remained  but  a  cloud  that  hung  like  a  pall  above 
the  cinders  that  smouldered  beneath.  The  exiles  could 
only  gaze,  wring  their  powerless  hands  and  weep. 

In  every  locality  the  effort  at  capture  had  been  well 
planned,  and  was  executed  thoroughly,  both  at  the  time  of 
reading  the  order  and  afterward  ;  the  search  for  those  who 
failed  to  come  being  pushed  with  earnest  diligence.  Still 
thpre  were  some  who,  with  their  families,  escaped  to  the 
woods.  In  the  utmost  fright  and  destitution  they  hid  them 
as  best  they  could,  to  bide  the  developments  of  time.  No 
opportunity  for  counter  effort  was  discovered  by  them  save 
at  Chipody,  where,  from  their  hiding  places,  they  saw  the 
flames  bursting  simultaneously  from  their  houses,  barns  and 
churches.  Instantly  their  blood  became  heated  beyond 
endurance.  Guided  by  anger,  and  thirsting  for  revenge, 
they  hastily  hid  their  wives  and  children  more  securely,  and 
lew  as  they  were,  threw  themselves  unexpectedly  on  the 
enemy,  who,  broken  by  the  furious  attack,  hastened  to 
their  ships,  leaving  forty-five  dead  and  wounded  on  the 
field. 


17 


Whichever  way  they  turned,  the  fate  of  these  fugitives 
could  be  nothing  less  than  deplorable  to  the  utmost  extreme. 
Their  English  persecutors  were  unrelenting  and  sought 
them  out  in  the  most  unfrequented  places.  Those  that,  by 
dint  of  watchfulness,  suffering  and  dubious  good  fortune 
escaped,  either  hid  in  rocky  caverns,  fens,  or  marshes, 
subsisting  by  fishing  and  kindred  methods,  or  joined  their 
comrades  who  had  united  with  the  French  before  the 
battle  at  the  fort,  and  shared  with  them  their  flinty  destiny. 
Others  found  refuge  in  the  wigwams  of  their  savage  friends, 
or  wandered  to  adjacent  islands  within  the  French  borders, 
still  hovering  near  their  lost  treasures.  Detached  groups 
found  their  way  into  the  interior  of  the  Canadian  settle- 
ments, to  receive  such  care  as  is  meted  out  to  the  impover- 
ished and  disconsolate.  Through  some  chance,  a  group  of 
these  people  fixed  their  habitations  on  the  Madawaska, 
where,  having  passed  through  indescribable  privations,  they 
gradually  developed  comforts,  which,  in  time,  ripened  into 
prosperity  and  happiness,  and  there,  at  this  dav,  may  be 
found  an  untarnished  type  of  the  Acadian  people. 

Little  bands  found  resting  places  within  the  provincial 
borders,  at  points  remote  from  English  settlements,  their 
security  consisting  in  their  poverty  and  the  unfrequented 
locality  of  their  homes. 

In  1763  the  iron  grip  of  the  British  hand  slightly 
yielded  its  grasp,  permission  being  then  granted  to  the  expa- 
triated to  return  and  establish  themselves  in  Digby  County, 
Township  Clare,  a  rough  and  jagged  place  on  the  southwest 
shore  of  St.  Marys  bay,  remote  from  all  habitation  and  ac- 
cessible only  from  the  sea  through  a  narrow  and  rock- 
bound  inlet.  A  few  promptly  availed  themselves  of  this 
meagre  indulgence.  Long  deprivation  and  suffering  seemed 
to  have  softened  their  memory  of  wrongs  and  lent  energy 


ij  <  I 


18 


(  til 


to  their  efforts.  Labor  for  themselves  had  in  it  such  pleas- 
urable quality  that  soon  the  rough  lands  were  made  to  yield 
their  treasures,  which,  with  ample  facilities  for  fishing,  ena- 
bled them  to  secure  life's  necessaries,  now  to  them  the 
sweetest  luxuries. 

This  experience  is  sufficiently  heartrending,  but  is,  if 
possible,  surpassed  by  those  who,  as  the  transports  glided 
down  the  bay,  gazed  their  last  on  their  native  lands  as  the 
flames  shot  upwards  through  the  dense  clouds  of  smoke. 
No  fleet  had  ever  borne  on  its  decks  such  burthen  of  heart- 
breakings,  decks  that  were  moistened  with  torrents  of  tears. 
No  desolation  can  be  more  dreary  than  the  transition  from 
home  to  homelessness ;  from  loved  land  to  one  which  at  best 
had  no  allurements,  that  could  only  be  a  place  for  wand- 
ering and  servitude ;  from  the  cheers  of  the  family  fireside 
to  a  bleak  and  dreary  desert. 

But  grief  will  often  exhaust  itself  and  yield  at  last  to 
passion,  or  mingled  together  they  find  expression  by  turns. 
Thus  it  was  on  one  of  these  vessels,  resulting  in  mutiny, 
overpowering  the  guards,  and  running  it  ashore  near  St. 
John's  river,  the  escaped  prisoners  finding  refuge  in  friendly 
wigwams. 

The  fleet  sped  on  its  way,  each  vessel  consigned  by 
orders  to  certain  of  the  colonies  along  the  Atlantic  coast, 
where  their  living  freight  was  heartlessly  set  on  shore, 
among  those  whose  language  was  not  understood,  and  each 
to  the  other  odious  by  long  hostility,  and  where  the  faith 
of  each  was  deemed  by  the  other  a  heresy,  a  wicked  and 
unclean  thing. 

Imagination  alone  can  follow  their  devious  fortunes,  as 
history  has  not  preserved  its  details,  more  than  at  the  hands 
of  those  so  intensely  disliked,  they  secured  greater  favors 
and  more  real  kindness  than  did  the  refugees  at  the  hands 


19 


)leas- 

yield 

ena- 

the 


of  their  Canadian  friends.  But  it  was  not  possible  to  com- 
fort them.  Wherever  they  might  find  refuge  among  the 
colonists  unhappiness  was  still  their  portion.  If  they  had 
few  wants  they  were  keenly  felt  and  could  not  be  yielded ; 
every  tradition  being  a  sacred  thing  to  which  their  very  souls 
were  attached  as  by  hooks  of  steel.  Their  unrest,  conse- 
quently, never  appeased,  necessarily  separated,  they  soon 
scattered  far  and  wide  In  well  nigh  aimless  purpose,  some  in 
after  years  working  their  way  back  to  Digby  and  Mada- 
waska.  Others  were  sent  from  Virginia  to  England  or 
found  refuge  in  the  Norman  land  of  their  forefathers. 

No  legend  tells  us  how  or  when  a  portion  of  these 
strangely  unfortunate  people  reached  Louisiana.  The  long 
stretch  of  inhospitable  wilderness  forbade  a  journey  thither 
by  land,  but  it  may  be  readily  surmised  that  some  kind 
hearted  Captain  took  them  by  sea  to  the  then  far  away  col- 
ony, where  they  could  once  more  hear  in  speech  the  music 
of  their  native  tongue. 

Fancy  will  paint  how  memory  of  the  harsh  and  for- 
bidding clime  they  had  left  behind,  thgether  with  their 
suffering  and  poverty  must  have  vanished  from  their 
minds,  as  they  slowly  wended  their  way  out  of  the  tropical 
Gulf  into  beautiful  Berwick  Bay,  and  thence  into  Bayou 
Teche  (Bio  Tesh)  extending  northward  two  hundred  miles, 
to  receive  the  silent  flowing  Atchafalaya  (A-shafala).  We 
dwell  with  them  on  the  scene.  There  is  not  a  ripple  on  the 
sleeping  Bayou,  a  deep  waterway  from  two  to  three  hundred 
feet  wide,  that,  like  a  ribbon  of  silver,  stretches  far,  far 
away ;  on  the  eastern  shore,  standing  then  as  now,  an  un- 
broken forest  of  cotton-wood  and  cypress,  their  lofly 
branches  interlacing,  all  draped  and  festooned  with  Spanish 
moss  as  if  in  sorrow  that  the  waters  into  which  their  shadows 
fell,  must  pass  away  to  return  no  more.     On  the  western 


I 


m 


m 


Hii' 


20 

shore  their  eyes  were  greeted  with  charmiDg  undulations, 
where  the  live  oak  spread  its  branches  and  the  palmetto 
rose  in  pretentious  dignity,  where  roses,  magnolias,  jessa- 
mine, camelias  and  oleanders,  of  spontaneous  growth, 
loaded  the  air  with  intoxicating  perfume,  seeming  to  offer  a 
paradise  where  the  rudest  must  long  to  linger  and  from 
which  the  blest  could  scarce  wish  to  wander.  Far 
up  the  stream,  on  the  billowy  lands,  the  exiles  estab- 
lished a  colony,  in  which  the  gentle  souled  Evangeline 
sought  her  lost  lover;  where  the  habits  of  their  ances- 
tors becoming  firmly  rooted,  are  still  untarnished;  where 
the  spinning  wheel  and  loom  are  heard  in  the  cabin 
home,  where  the  girls  wear  the  Norman  bonnet  and  petti- 
coat, where  the  village  cure  is  their  guide  and  master,  and 
the  church  bells  call  to  that  form  of  devotion  from  which 
they  have  never  swerved. 

The  shameless  work  was  done ;  the  expatriation  made 
as  complete  as  it  was  possible  to  do,  by  resort  to  the  most 
frigid  heartlessness  and  rugged  violence.  Nine  thousand 
persons  had  been  made  empoverished  wanderers  on  the  face 
of  the  earth,  and  their  vast  wealth  at  the  same  time  given 
to  the  winds  and  the  flames. 

Families  had  necessarily  been  separated,  never  to  be 
reunited,  save  by  such  chance  accident  as  could  rarely 
occur.  Fancy  alone  can  picture  the  joy  ?f  such  unex- 
pected meeting,  and  none  could  be  more  touching  than  the 
story  of  the  lovers  kindly  handed  down  to  us  by  authentic 
history. 

They  were  to  have  wed  on  the  very  day  on  which  the 
male  inhabitants  of  Grand  Pre  were  made  prisoners.  On 
his  way  to  the  ship  Jean  stopped  to  kiss  the  kneeling, 
weeping  maiden  and  hurriedly  said,  **  Adelle,  trust  in  God 
and  all  will  be  well."    On  different  vessels  both  were  landed 


21 


in  New  York,  and  the  maiden,  with  her  mother,  found  a 
home  far  up  the  Hudson,  from  which  the  former  ttslb 
carried  away  in  an  Indian  raid  and  made  the  petted  prisoner 
of  a  chief  in  the  deep  forest  recesses  of  the  Mohawk 
Valley. 

In  time  Jean  became  a  trader  with  the  Indians,  and,  in 
one  of  his  long  journeys,  one  day  **  approached  t'le  wigwam 
of  the  old  chief,  and,  amid  the  forest  shadows,  saw  a  young 
woman,  with  her  back  toward  him,  as  she  sat  on  a  mat, 
feathering  arrows.  On  her  head  sat  jauntily  a  French  cap. 
With  this,  her  fair  neck  suggested  her  nativity.  He 
approached  her  gently — their  eyes  met.  The  maiden  sprang 
from  the  mat,  and  uttering  a  wild  cry  of  joy  and  'Jean,' 
fell  fainting  in  his  arms.'' 


Poetry  and  romance  have  vied  with  history  in  por- 
trayal of  the  pitiable  experience  of  this  people,  who  left 
France  with  hope  of  bettering  their  lives  in  the  rugged  wil- 
derness of  a  far  away  and  unknown  land. 

Strangely  enough  its  history  presents  the  elements  of 
romance,  and  poetry  and  story  can  scarce  reach  beyond  the 
real  limits  of  cheerless  history. 

A  rugged  land,  an  unostentatious  people,  ever  on  the 
rack  of  misfortune,  but  never  swerving  from  the  habits  and 
faith  of  their  fathers,  Acadia  has  been  made  by  the  poet's 
magic  pen  the  land  of  Evangeline,  and  she,  the  pure  souled, 
the  patient,  ever  loving  and  ever  faithful,  the  representa- 
tive of  her  people,  whose  cup  was  always  well-nigh  filled 
with  bitterness,  but  who,  like  her : 

"  Meekly  bowed  their  heads,  and  murmured, 
Father,  I  thank  Thee." 


:1 


S' 


THE  END. 


ni 


1 


fife* 


m 

ff- 


COSTUMES  OF  THE  ACADIANS. 


If: 


BANISHMENT 


AND 


REMOVAL  OF  THE  ACADl  ANS 


-BY- 


Madame  MOREL  DE  LA  DURANTAYE. 


I 


\?'i 


m 


Banishment  and  Removal  of  tlie  Acadians. 


In  1740,  difficulties  between  France  and  England,  in 
consequence  of  court-intrigues,  kindled  a  needless  war 
which  terminated  in  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle.  The 
details  of  the  treaty  exhibited,  on  the  part  of  the  French 
ministers,  such  neglect  and  unpardonable  ignorance  that  a 
new  war  began  very  soon  after,  on  the  borders  of  Acadia. 
The  governor  of  Canada  placed  garrisons  along  the  frontiers 
and  the  peace  heretofore  enjoyed  by  the  Acadians  ceased 
to  exist. 

In  1755,  the  envy  which  the  prosperity  and  rich  soil 
of  the  colony  had  excited  among  the  militia  of  New-Eng- 
land brought  on  this  infamous  and  cruel  spoliation,  an 
eternal  stain  on  the  name  and  honor  of  England,  which, 
unfortunately,  is  without  more  than  one  parallel  in  the  his- 
tory Oi  that  nation.  This  iniquitous  decision  was  carefully 
concealed  from  the  Acadians,  in  order  not  to  provoke  a 
suspicion  that  might  have  proved  dangerous.  A  proclama- 
tion was  issued  calling  on  the  people  to  assemble  on  the  5th 
of  September,  1755,  in  their  different  parishes  to  hear  an 
important  communication  from  the  governor.  This  deceit 
was  not  everywhere  successful.  At  Beau-Bassin,  part  of 
what  had  remained  of  the  French  Acadian  population  took 
at  once  to  the  woods.  The  people  of  Annapolis,  accustomed 
of  old  to  seek,  in  the  forests,  a  refuge  against  the  cruelties 
of  war,  did  not  wait  for  the  completion  of  this  horrible 


\  '^ , 


Ills 


26 

catastrophe,  therefore  a  certain  number  only  fell  into  the 
hands  of  their  foes. 

But  in  the  district  of  Mines,  which  is  the  wealthiest  in 
Acadia,  good  care  had  been  taken  to  secure  the  success  of 
the  plot.  This  population,  peaceful,  industrious  and  not  as 
suspicious  perhaps,  responded  in  a  body  to  the  call  of  the 
governor,  and  being  secretly  surrounded  by  soldiery,  were 
told  they  were  prisoners  of  war,  and  their  lands,  tenements 
and  household  goods  forfeited  to  the  crown,  and  that  on  the 
10th  of  September,  they  were  to  embark  for  the  British 
Colonies. 

This  awful  communication  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  and 
stunned  the  wretched  families.  Without  arms,  surrounded 
by  soldiers  and  crushed  beneath  calamity,  the  Acadians  had 
to  bow  to  the  atrocious  law  of  a  triumphant  foe ;  and  on 
the  10th  of  September,  the  mournful  expatriation  took 
place. 

That  date  had  been  fixed  upon  as  the  day  of  departure ; 
and  a  man  of  war  was  in  waiting  for  them.  At  day  break, 
drums  were  resounding  in  the  villages,  and  at  eight  o'clock 
the  ringing  of  the  church  bells  told  the  sad  and  desolate 
Frenchmen  that  the  time  had  come  for  them  to  leave  for- 
v3ver  their  native  land.  Soldiers  entered  the  houses  and 
turned  away  men,  women  and  children  into  the  market 
place.  Till  then  each  family  had  remained  together,  and  a 
silent  sadness  prevailed;  but  when  the  drums  beat  to 
embark;  when  the  time  had  come  to  leave  their  native 
home  for  ever,  to  part  with  mother,  relatives,  friends,  with- 
out hope  of  seeing  them  again,  to  follow  strangers  that 
enemity,  language,  habits  and  especially  religion  had  made 
distasteful,  crushed  beneath  the  weight  of  their  misery,  the 
exiles  melted  into  tears  and  rushed  into  each  others  arms  in 
a  long  and  last  embrace.     The  drums  were  resounding 


I   i' 


T 


o  the 

sst  in 

BSS  of 
iotas 
f  the 
were 
aents 
Q  the 
itish 


27 

incessantly  and  the  crowd  was  pushed  on  toward  the  ships 
anchored  in  the  river.  Two  hundred  and  sixty  young  men 
were  ordered  to  embark  on  board  the  first  vessel.  This 
they  refused  to  do,  declaring  they  would  not  leave  their 
parents  but  were  willing  to  embark  with  their  families. 
Their  request  was  immediately  rejected,  but  they  were 
forced  into  subjection  by  the  troops,  who,  with  fixed 
bayonets,  advanced  toward  them,  and  those  who  tried  to 
resist  were  wounded,  leaving  no  alternative,  but  to  submit 
to  this  horrible  tyranny.  The  road  leading  from  the  church 
to  the  shore  was  crowded  with  women  and  children,  who^ 
on  their  knees,  greeted  them  with  tears  and  their  blessings, 
as  they  passed,  bidding  a  sad  adieu  to  husband  or  son,  and 
extending  to  them  trembling  hands,  which  they  sometimes 
could  press  in  theirs,  but  which  a  brutal  soldier  compelled 
soon  to  be  released.  The  young  men  were  followed  by  their 
seniors,  who  passed  through  the  same  scene  of  sorrow  and 
distress.  In  this  manner  were  the  whole  male  population 
put  on  board  of  the  five  transports  stationed  in  the  river ; 
each  of  these  were  guarded  by  six  officers  and  eighty 
privates.  As  soon  as  other  vessels  arrived,  the  women 
and  children  were  put  aboard,  and  when  at  sea,  the  soldiers 
would  sing,  unmindful  of  such  dreary  misfortune.  The 
tears  of  these  poor  wretched  people  excited  their  cruelty 
and  even  they  had  a  good  deal  to  suflfer  at  the  hands  of  the 
officers. 

Kevenge,  mean  cruelty,  implacable  cupidity,  and 
every  contemptible  passion  concurs  to  increase  the  infamy 
of  this  odious  removal  and  brand  it  as  one  of  the  most 
shameful  pages  of  English  history. 

For  several  consecutive  evenings,  the  cattle  would 
congregate  around  the  smoking  ruins  of  the  homes,  as 
if    expecting   the  return   of    their   owners,    while    the 


i 


i 


I 


m 


m 

li 


I'll 


I   M 


5'n'i 


IN 


28 

faithful  watchdogs  were  howling  on  the  deserted  hearths. 

According  to  the  Revue  des  Deux  Mondes  of  18S1,  the 
number  of  prisoners  thus  removed  in  the  district  of  Mines 
amounted  to  4,000,  and  it  may  be  said  that  the.  whole 
French  population  had  been  banished,  as  very  few  could 
escape. 

From  the  following  statement  may  be  obtained  an 
idea  of  the  wealth  of  that  country.  Four  thousand  houses 
and  five  thousand  stables  were  burned;  twelve  thousand 
oxen,  three  thousand  cows,  five  thousand  calves,  six  thous- 
and horses,  twelve  thousand  sheep  and  eight  hundred  pigs 
were  taken  possession  of. 

The  American  colonists,  who  had  long  since  provoked 
the  measures,  obtained  a  grant  of  the  land,  and  of  course 
the  numerous  herds  were  not  without  profit  to  some  one ; 
so,  nothing  had  been  neglected  to  succeed  in  that  carton, 
which  was  the  wealthiest  of  all. 

How  did  Ciese  poor  people  live  in  the  forests  and 
wilderness?  through  what  succession  of  dangers  and  suffer- 
ings did  they  pass  in  the  presence  of  speculators  among 
whom  their  lands  were  divided  ?  This  we  do  not  know. 
But  we  are  aware  that  they  felt  the  pangs  of  hunger  and 
cold  and  defended  their  lives  against  wild  beasts. 

At  the  present  time  we  find  a  small  parish  of  Acadian 
origin,  growing  on  the  ruins  of  their  country,  in  the  midst 
of  British  invaders.  The  population  are  French  Acadians 
and  Catholics  in  every  principle  and  remains  as  an  un- 
conquerable protest  of  justice.  They  are  the  inhabitants 
who,  escaping  from  British  persecution,  took  refuge  in  the 
woods,   and  later  emigrated  into  several  localities  of  St. 

hi  1755,  the  French  commanding  ofiicer  stationed 
iiioiself  at  Beausejour  with  a  small  garrison  of  one  hundred 


T 


29 

and  fifty  men,  where  they  watched  the  movements  of  the 
English,  who,  later  on,  took  the  fort  by  a  surprise.  The 
women  and  children  were  able  to  escape  and  hide  away  in 
the  woods ;  who  were  soon  after  joined  by  the  commander 
with  a  few  armed  men.  When  they  saw  the  flames 
destroying  their  houses,  the  blood  of  the  old  Acadians 
swelled  in  their  veins,  and  they  listened  only  to  anger  and 
revenge.  They  sent  their  wives  and  children  into  the 
woods  and  threw  themselves  suddenly  on  the  enemies,  who, 
broken  by  the  furious  and  unexpected  attack,  returned  to 
their  ships,  leaving  forty-five  of  their  comrades  dead  or 
wounded.  After  this  dreadful  slaughter,  the  French 
officer  apportioned,  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  the  few 
remaining  families,  sending  some  to  the  islands  of  the  Gulf, 
while  others,  loth  to  leave,  began  again  to  clear  the  woods 
along  the  shores ;  but  the  majority  of  those  established  on 
the  shores  had  to  take  refuge  in  Canada. 

In  1757,  there  remained  on  the  borders  of  the  Gulf  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  but  very  few  families,  being  unobserved 
because  of  their  small  number  and  the  remoteness  of 
English  settlements.  The  usual  poverty  of  an  uninhab- 
ited country  made  it  anything  but  a  desirable  location. 

As  to  the  fate  of  the  people  dwelling  along  the  river 
of  Annapolis,  they  threw  themselves  in  the  woods  at  the 
first  suspicion ;  for  they  had  for  some  time  been  accus- 
tomed to  such  tactics;  but  this  time,  it  was  not  a  passing 
storm  after  which  they  could  return  to  their  fields  and 
rebuild  their  wooden  houses.  The  English  levied  on  them 
a  lasting  war.  One  portion  of  the  people  of  Annapolis 
were  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  forests  and  deserts,  with  the 
savages,  while  others  scattered  along  the  shores,  where,  poor 
and  unnoticed,  they  earned  their  living  as  Acadian  fisher- 
men.    There,  for  several  years,  they  succeeded  in  conceal- 


i\ 


30 


I'  '■''' 


14  i 


li:  ' 


ing  their  existence  amid  anxieties  and  privati'>ias,  hiding 
carefully  their  small  canoea,  not  daring  to  till  the  land, 
watching,  with  apprehension,  any  English  sail,  and  divid- 
ing with  their  friends,  the  Indians,  the  supplies  due  to 
Ashing  and  hunting. 

The  woodland  remains  yet,  but  today,  under  its 
shade,  lives  a  race  different  in  customs  and  language.  It  is 
only  on  the  dreary  and  misty  shores  of  the  Atlantic  that 
vegetate  yet  a  few  Acadian  peasants,  whose  fathers  came 
back  from  exile  to  die  in  their  native  land.  In  their  cabin, 
the  spinning  wheel  and  the  loom  are  yet  in  motion  The 
young  girls  still  wear  the  Norman  bonnet  and  petticoat, 
and  in  the  evening,  setting  near  the  fire,  they  repeat  the 
history  of  the  Gospel,  while  in  its  rocky  caverns,  near  by, 
the  ocean  roars  and  answers  in  a  disconsolate  tune  to  the 
groans  of  the  forest. 

Since  then,  like  the  passing  of  a  terrible  storm  leaving 
wreck  and  ruin  in  its  track,  the  persecution  subsided,  the 
Acadians  made  use  of  a  kind  of  sufferance  to  establish 
themselves  openly  on  the  shores  that  had  been  their  refuge 
for  so  many  years.  A  few  years  after,  they  were  joined  in 
these  solitary  and  wretched  parts  of  the  country  by  a  small 
fraction  of  those  transported  by  the  English  in  1755.  Such 
is  the  origin  of  the  Acadian  population  in  Canada,  that  has 
given  its  name  to  the  parish  called  Acadia,  in  the  county 
of  St.  John,  a  place  made  immortal  by  the  beautiful 
poem  of  Longfellow,  and  is  known  as  the  home  of  Evan- 
geline. 

A  memorial  of  the  Bishop  of  Quebec,  dated  October 
30th,  1757,  let  us  know  their  number,  especially  at  Cape 
Sable,  where  a  Catholic  Missionary  comforted  and  sustained 
them  against  English  persecutions ;  this  missionary  had  been 
called  by  them,  and  offered  to  defray  his  own  expenses. 


pla< 


31 


A  certain  number  still  remained  scattered  in  different 
places  living  miserably  in  the  remotest  cantons. 

In  1763,  permission  was  granted  to  Acadians  that  had 
been  transported  into  Massachusetts  to  establish  themselves 
on  the  south-west  shore  of  their  old  country,  near  St. 
Mary's  Bay. 

The  township  of  Clare,  Digby  county,  was  at  the  time 
a  rough  and  jagged  place,  remote  from  all  habitation  and 
accessible  only  by  sea.  The  Acadians,  who  seem  to  possess 
as  an  essential  characteristic,  a  constant  energy  and  indom- 
itable perseverance,  were  ready  to  recommence  the  struggle 
and  work  without  loss  of  courage.  They  were  not  long  in 
putting  their  shoulder  to  the  wheel  when  the  said  inherit- 
ance, granted  them  by  the  compassion  of  their  oppressors, 
came  back  into  their  hands.  Industrious,  hard-workers, 
they  soon  cleared  the  land,  built  fishing  boats,  and  created 
in  this  deserted  country,  a  sufficient  thrift.  All  the  authors 
are  in  accordance  in  their  testimony  as  to  the  preservation 
of  the  language,  national  character  and  vigilance  to  main- 
tain old  customs. 

Mr.  Halliburton,  judge  in  Nova  Scotia,  has  written 
the  following  in  1829 :  **  While  Germans  have  a  tendency 
to  disappear  in  the  English  population,  the  Acadians  live 
together  as  much  as  possible,  keeping  their  religion,  lan- 
guage and  peculiar  customs.  They  never  intermarry  with 
their  protestant  neighbors.  Among  themselves  they  speak 
but  French." 


PART  SECOND. 

France  has  been,  till  the  middle  of  the  last  century, 
one  of  the  greatest  colonial  powers  in  the  world.  The 
moment  seems  propitious  to  present  to  the  public  the 
researches  we  publish  here.     It  is  sad,  indeed,  in  exhibiting 


82 


■4 


the  national  character,  to  call  back  the  painful  end  of 
efforts  which,  at  their  beginning,  raised  so  legitimate  and 
bright  hopes ;  but  we  must  overcome  the  natural  repulsion 
generated  by  misfortune,  and  fix  our  minds  on  these  sad 
recollections  of  the  past,  to  derive  from  our  disasters,  useful 
information  to  guide  and  strengthen  our  conduct  in  the 
future.  We  know  that  it  is  not  without  concern  for  us  to 
follow  the  French  people,  abandoned  in  our  old  possessions, 
and  to  show  what  has  become  of  their  posterity,  through 
the  difficulties  and  trials  of  a  foreign  domination.  France 
seems  to  have  forgotten,  that  in  the  dark  hours  of  her 
history,  important  populations  of  her  own  blood,  and  in 
spite  of  misfortune,  faithful  to  their  origin,  were  forsaken 
by  her.  Who  remembers  Uhday  Acadia,  Canada,  Louis- 
iana or  even  Mauritius,  though  so  recently  lost  ?  Who  has 
any  recollection  of  places  illustrated  by  so  many  heroic 
fights,  and  the  devoted  patriotism  of  their  inhabitants  ?  It 
is  hard  to  awaken  remembrances  of  our  past  glory,  and  to 
point  out  that  France  has  been  the  first  to  commence  this 
wonderful  development  of  civilization  in  North  America, 
while  losing,  through  her  carelessness,  the  generous  chil- 
dren she  did  not  know  how  to  defend. 

Courageous  colonists,  who  with  energetic  perseverance, 
have  faced  persecutions  and  abandonment,  you  have  kept 
everywhere,  not  only  the  tradition,  but  also  the  religion, 
customs,  language  and  love  of  your  country.  Has  not  the 
time  arrived  to  depart  from  that  selfish  indifierence  with 
which  we  rewarded  their  affection?  Those  to  whom  the 
greatness  and  prospects  of  France  are  yet  worthy  of  con- 
sideration will  understand  that  to  call  attention  to  the 
national  question  is  to  attend  to  the  future  eventually  laid 
up  for  the  French  race. 


ACADIAN  RECOLLECTIONS 


—BY— 


Madame  MOREL  DE  LA  DURANTAYE. 


m 


ly 


u 


ACADIAN  RECOLLECTIONS. 


The  writer  of  this,  being  a  descendant  of  the  Acadian 
exiles,  ventures  to  offer  a  contribution  to  their  sad  history, 
partly  derived  from  records  and  partly  from  impressions 
made  by  recitals  of  those  among  whom  she  was  reared.  It 
is  true  that  those  who  made  the  terrible  journey  through 
the  wilderness  had  been  gathered  by  death  before  my  birth, 
but  I  well  remember  seeing  and  conversing  with  their 
children,  born  after  theix  departure  from  their  original 
homes,  some  on  board  the  vessels  that  carried  them  to  the 
English  colonies,  others  in  the  forests  during  their  wander, 
ings  in  search  of  a  place  to  rest. 

Some  of  these  people,  then  very  old,  had  been  nursed 
by  their  mothers  all  through  the  long  weary  way,  as  in 
terror  they  fled  they  knew  not  where. 

The  sorrowful  stories  were  so  burned  into  my  young 
heart,  that  in  my  after-journeyings  through  the  provinces, 
I  have  eagerly  listened  to  repetitions  by  their  descendants, 
who  tell,  with  touching  pathos,  the  incidents  handed  down 
in  families,  from  generation  to  generation.  The  length  of 
time  that  has  elapsed  makes  it  impossible  to  now  give  pri- 
mitive exactitude,  and  therefore  this  record  must  bear 
somewhat  the  form  of  legends  of  my  native  village,  where 
my  story  begins. 

Going  backward  more  than  a  century,  eastern  Canada 
was  a  trackless  wilderness.  It  was  1755  or  1756  when  a 
few  families  were  seen  wending  their  way  through  it ;  all 
victims  of  the  same  misfortune,  who,  for  some  cause  now 


• 


m 


unknown,  halted  on  the  banks  of  the  Montreal  riyer,  and 
decided  that  they  were  now  sufficiently  hidden  and  might 
venture  to  there  establish  a  home. 

It  was  a  curious  but  not  unnatural  fancy,  that  the 
exiles  usually  named  any  new  place  they  might  decide  to 
occupy,  after  some  one  that  was  dear  to  them  in  the  land 
from  which  they  had  been  expelled. 

This  group  had  found  a  spot  where  they  determined  to 
begin  anew  the  struggle  of  life,  to  try  once  more  what 
unremitting  toil  might  bring  forth,  and  named  it  Little 
Acadia— after  their  lost  country.  Thus  began  a  little 
colony,  toward  which  other  fugitives,  as  if  by  instinct, 
worked  their  weary  way.  The  scenes  then  occurring  there 
would  soften  the  flintiest  heart.  The  poor  unfortunates 
arrived,  one  after  another,  in  straggling  groups  and  wholly 
destitute,  seeming  like  parts  of  a  wreck  after  a  storm, 
drifted  by  the  winds  to  the  same  shore.  Fathers,  with 
large  families  came,  accompanied,  perhaps,  by  some  of 
their  neighbors.  Often  poor  young  girls  lived  through  the 
journey,  while  their  aged  parents  died  by  the  way  from 
hardship  and  starvation,  finding  their  last  rest  in  the  gloomy 
forest.  Groups  of  these  wanderers  were  often  partly  or 
wholly  lost  in  the  wilderness  to  be  seen  no  moroc  The 
survivors,  filled  with  grief  for  those  that  had  disappeared 
by  the  way,  and  embittered  toward  those  who  had  caused 
their  misery,  could  but  recount  the  painful  story  and  weep. 
Occasionally  an  old  mother,  whose  love  for  her  children 
was  great  enough  to  surmount  every  obstacle  and  bear  with 
all  the  hardships  of  the  journey,  would  finally  reach  the 
place  that  was  to  witness  the  last  sacrifice  of  her  life.  In 
her  dying  hour,  she  might  be  heard  asking  God  to  bless  all 
the  poor  exiles  around  her,  and  then,  in  a  way  so  innocent 
and  pure  that  you  would  know  they  were  the  last  wish  of  a 


37 

loving  mother^s  heart,  hear  her  cry,  my  children,  where  are 
they  ?  Alas !  God  only  knows,  but  if  any  of  you  ever 
see  them,  tell  them  that  their  old  mother  died,  blessed 
them,  and  asking  God  to  bless  and  protect  them  from  the 
tyranny  of  the  English,  and  at  last  to  forgive  them. 

In  pain  and  poverty,  sighs  and  tears,  thus  was  Little 
Acadia  begun,  and  in  the  midst  of  these  humble  unfortun- 
ates, in  the  fielcis  close  by  a  cottage,  the  erection  of  which 
was  just  commenced,  my  father  was  born ;  and  in  that 
same  little  colony  I  first  saw  the  light  of  day. 

This  constitutes  but  the  means  of  insight  into  the  multi- 
tude of  ofl-told  experience,  of  trials  and  sufferings  that  had 
seared  the  souls  of  the  exiles,  had  prepared  their  soil  for 
the  growth  of  the  tares  of  hate,  that  to  this  day  flourish  in 
luxuriance. 

From  it  we  naturally  turn  to  the  causes  that  so  crushed 
this  people,  as  if  beneath  a  heel  shod  with  iron. 

In  the  province  now  known  as  Nova  Scotia,  at  an 
early  day  lived  a  people  whose  land  was  known  to  them  and 
the  world  as  Acadia.  They  were  all  French  and  lived  in 
distinct  settlements,  somewhat  widely  scattered.  One  of 
these  was  known  at  the  time  as  Port  Royal,  which  was 
captured  by  the  English  in  1710,  and  then  named  Annap- 
olis, by  which  title  that  colony  was  ever  afterward  desig- 
nated. It  is  to  the  people  of  tliis  colony  that  this  sketch  is 
chiefly  devoted,  as  my  aicestry  were  among  those  who 
escaped  from  it,  as  well  as  many  of  those  with  whom  I 
spent  my  early  years,  and  from  whom  I  received  the  early 
and  lasting  impressions. 

Port  R'  « "l  was  the  most  valuable  point  owned  by  the 
French  in  America.  In  1711  all  the  Acadian  Peninsula 
suffered  the  fate  of  Port  Royal.  The  French  nbandoned  it 
by  a  treaty  in  1714. 


38 


Acadia  thus  passed  under  the  English  cepter,  and  so 
remained  for  nearly  fifty  years,  when  Nicholson,  Governor 
of  the  Province,  issued  an  order  compelling  the  inhabitants 
to  come  before  September  5th,  1755,  and  show  submission 
to  the  English  crown  by  taking  an  oath,  or  forteit  their 
rights  as  English  citizens.  This  they  had  before  been 
required  to  do  under  direction  of  Phillips,  who  then  repre- 
sented the  English  Government,  and  who  granted  them 
the  rights  of  citizens  without  being  required  to  bear  arms, 
and  permitting  them  freedom  to  worship  as  they  chose,  and 
that  this  should  be  perpetual.  The  Acadians  reminded 
Governor  Nicholson  of  the  promise  of  Phillips  and  the 
reserve  he  had  granted  in  the  oath  required  of  them.  They 
also  reminded  him  ol  the  cruelty  of  requiring  them  to  fight 
against  their  own  people,  man  to  man,  but  received  in 
answer  that  Phillips  had  been  censured  by  the  King  for  the 
rash  promises  he  had  made,  and  that  they  must  now  sub- 
mit to  the  King.  There  had  been  deceit  in  politics  in  order 
to  keep  them  there  against  their  own  will,  and  the  result  of 
this  hideous  crime  could  have  but  one  result. 

The  Acadians  asked  if  in  case  they  desired  to  leave 
the  country,  they  would  be  allowed  to  dispose  of  their 
property.  They  were  then  informed  that  they  could  not 
either  sell  their  property  or  leave  the  country.  They  then 
returned  to  their  fireside,  some  in  despair,  others  waiting  in 
hopes,  but  not  one  would  swear  allegiance  to  England  and 
raise  his  arm  against  France.  Then  began  the  tyranny  of 
the  English  administration;  then  those  poor  but  heroic 
people  by  stealth  left  their  native  home,  carrying  nothing 
with  them  but  their  hatred  for  their  persecutors.  They 
left  one  after  another,  men  and  women  holding  on  their 
arms  their  aged  fathers  and  mothers.  Their  conversations 
were  held  in  low  tones  and  ceased  entirely  on  the  threshold, 


I 


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I 


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39 


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I 


the  head  of  the  family  first,  then  followed  all  the  represen- 
tatives of  a  third  generation,'  each  with  a  load  of  some 
kind.  The  procession  started  silently  through  the  darkness 
to  the  harbor,  where  lay  the  ship  awaiting  their  embarca- 
tion  and  transfer  to  the  Canadian  shore. 

.  They  left,  unnoticed  by  anyone,  as  they  feared  arousing 
the  authorities  who  were  already  on  the  alert.  Arrived 
upon  the  beach  amidst  darkness,  and  blinded  with  tears, 
there  was  of  course  some  confusion,  people  could  be  heard 
in  low  voices  calling  one  another,  and  sailors  letting  go 
their  lines,  but  soon  all  noise  ceased.  Occasionally  you 
would  hear  a  few  between  their  sobs  bidding  good-bye  to 
tltc^r  country,  never  to  return.  The  anguish  was  general, 
eveii  little  babes  woke  from  sleep  and  cried,  as  a  cold 
breaze  would  pass  o\  er  their  face ;  they  knew  it  was  not 
their  mother's  caressing  breath.  The  boat  began  to  rock ; 
they  felt  it  was  not  the  rocking  of  their  cradle,  and  theirs 
were  the  last  cries  borne  back  to  Acadia. 

Go  now,  you  barbarous  instrument  of  politics ;  go  and 
distribute  on  other  shores  your  mission  of  tyranny  and 
outrage.  Hidden  in  the  forests,  on  the  beaches,  and  in  the 
midst  of  solitude  are  your  victims.  Do  not  flatter  you  -elf 
with  the  hope  that  their  voices  are  silenced  forever ;  tnat 
their  footsieps  will  never  again  return  to  their  native  soil ; 
that  their  atiuies  will  never  reach  the  ears  of  the  civilized 
world ;  that  Qud  and  the  world  will  leave  them  eternally 
without  justice,  and  that  you  will  continue  your  reign  of 
destruction  without  punishment.  No !  the  voice  of  these 
children  shall  not  be  hushed ;  it  will  outlive  these  courts 
upheld  by  the  tears  and  sufferings  of  a  nation,  rocked  in 
the  crsi  le  of  their  misery  and  cries  of  anguish.  Go,  ye 
tyrants ;  Le  calumny  will  fall  upon  your  memory  and  fol- 
low you  to  your  tombs. 


40 


A  MIDNIGHT  POEM. 


While  writing  at  midnight  with  four  in  the  room, 

My  brain  as  the  morning  dawned  weighing; 
With  thoughts  of  the  little  one  now  left  alone, 

And  their  grief  my  mind  was  portraying— 
Bereft  to-night  of  their  kind  father 

Sorrow  comes  to  young  and  old ; 
I  was  thinking  of  the  daylight 

And  the  news  which  must  be  told, 
When  with  daylight  they'd  awaken 

And  with  one  accord  all  rush 
For  the  first  fond  kiss  from  papa, 

And  I— how  sad— their  hearts  must  »?rush! 


11 


Yes,  to  his  eternal  rest  he  is  gone  fov    jr, 

From  the  ones  who  loved  him  well, 
Who  will  forget  him  never— 

Shall  we  ever  meet  again? 
Yes,  the  splendor  will  be  greater, 

For  when  we  meet,  'twill  be  above 
And  there  see  our  Creator! 

We  can  no  longer  watch  and  mourn 
For  him— the  loved  one. 

Whose  life  on  earth  to  us  was  but  a  charm, 
We  can  but  hope  that  his  soul  will  be 

As  welcome  in  heaven. 
As  the  parting  was  sad  for  me. 

When  we  four  will  have  passed  away 
Will  some  one  remember  us, 

And  will  the  remembrance  be  as  sad 
'  As  the  one  who  has  gone  to-day. 

Will  we  be  remembered 
By  friends  once  near  and  dear; 

Or  will  we  be  forgotten. 
As  though  we  never  had  been  here. 

Memory,  sad  memory, 
With  aching  heart  so  sore 

Comes  sorrowing  and  sorrowing 
Alike  to  rich  and  poor; 

Though  his  image  I  will  always  keep. 
Defy  years  to  efface; 

'Twill  keep  my  pathway  clear  and  bright 
And  in  heaven  I  may  also  find 

The  true  and  only  light 


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